Book Description

In the rest of the world, they call it the Open Championship. Americans call it the British Open, but if any tournament is considered the battle for the world championship of golf, it is the one held annually on the great links courses of Scotland and England, the birthplace of the game.

By the time the 1977 Open came to Turnberry on Scotland's west coast, Jack Nicklaus had established himself as the greatest champion the golf world has ever known, well on his way to the record that Tiger Woods would spend his childhood dreaming of and pointing toward. The sight of Nicklaus on the leaderboard was enough to make strong golfers shake. Everyone knew that Nicklaus was the man to beat in every major championship he entered.

At the same time, Tom Watson had become the latest golfer to be heralded as the "Next Nicklaus." Watson had overcome his reputation for choking in big tournaments and was beginning to be viewed by his peers as the top player of his generation. He had won two majors, but there were still questions about his ability to stand up under the fiercest pressure.

There are few moments in sports when it is clear to one and all that a torch has been passed. The 1977 Open Championship at Turnberry was one such event. The weather was uncharacteristically warm, British golf fans bared their pink skin to the unfamiliar sun, and the course played hard and fast. Nicklaus and Watson were tied after the first two rounds. Nicklaus shot a blistering 65-66 over the last two days to post a 72-hole score that set a tournament record; but Watson, paired with Nicklaus over those fateful 36 holes, looked Jack in the eye and shot 65-65 to win by a stroke. And the Next Nicklaus had been found at last, even as the original kept winning major tournaments -- but the air of invincibility was gone forever.

Michael Corcoran takes the drama of this rare moment in golf history and brings it to vivid life. He draws on his interviews with competitors, caddies, commentators, and spectators to tell the magnificent story of this epic duel in all the rich detail any fan of golfing drama could ask for. Duel in the Sun is an unforgettable tale of the rise of a new hero and the grace of an older champion welcoming him to the summit of the game. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

it makes you wish tiger had players he could duel with.
I am a 31 year old former college golfer. I am a history buff of all sports but I really didn't know my golf history as well as i should. This book really helped me. The book details Palmer, Player, Trevino, Nicklaus, Watson and a host of others. You also learn the detailed history of the British Open or as they call it "The Open" The detail of how the British cadies talk is alone worthy as a reason to read this. If you are a golf fan this is a 5 star book if you are not a golf fan I would not recommend it. Although I wouldn't want to dress like they did in the 1970's ; this book made you wish that you did grow up then.

Great read!
Even the most casual sports fan will love this book. Like Laura Hillenbrand did in Sea Biscuit, Corcoran breathes life into an epic moment in sports history, the duel between Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson in the 1977 British Open. The writing makes you feel like you're right there during the twists and turns of the tournament, getting to peek inside the heads of the athletes during the most pressure-filled moments. And the story is terrific... two golfers at the top of their game, battling a course that none of their competitors could handle. This book was really top-notch.

Best I've Ever Read on Golf
The storytelling and the quality of writing in this book are excellent. You won't want it to end.

A rambling piece ...
This book is very poorly written and organized. It is a rambling piece that covers a number of subjects other than the "Duel in the Sun" in a very disorganized manner. The commentary etc. of the actual "Duel in the Sun" comes along after about 2/3 of the book, and presents virtually nothing insightful.

The best kind of golf book
This is the best golf book I've read in several years. The author makes exciting an event which took place more than a quarter-century ago, and that's no easy chore. The minor characters are just as interesting and entertaining as Nicklaus and Watson. Corcoran weaves together geography, history, psychology and more as he tells the story of the greatest mano a mano golf showdown ever. Corcoran does an excellent job of building drama and tension page by page, until finally a winner is revealed. I couldn't put it down! In fact, I read it twice in two days. Buy this book for yourself or for the golf nut you know. You won't be disappointed. ... Read more

Book Description

A Game of Golf is the eloquent memoir of one of the game's most honored players, Francis Ouimet. His victory in the 1913 U.S. Open in a stunning play-off upset of Harry Vardon and Ted Ray is viewed as the turning point in American golf.Become the spectator as Ouimet takes you through the great triumphs and heartbreaking losses, and feel the passion of playing the game at its highest level. ... Read more

Book Description

When he died in a bizarre plane crash in 1999, U.S. Open golf champion Payne Stewart became a sports icon.Already famous for his colorful knickers and charming cockiness, Stewart had parlayed his golfing talent into a brilliant career.The tragic timing of his death at the height of his career focused the spotlight on him even more.In The Payne Stewart Story, author Larry Guest covers the golfing great's career, from his start as an unpopular player dubbed "Tinkerbelle" to his standing as one of golf's most respected professionals.For this book, Guest drew on his 20-year friendship with Stewart and more than 100 hours of taped interviews with some 30 people, including Payne's wife, Tracey, and his friend and fellow PGA Tour player Larry Rinker.Full of surprises, the book details Payne's harmonica playing, his standing as the life of the party, and his quiet spiritual growth.The Payne Stewart Story is funny and sad, triumphant and tragic. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Awesome!
As a HUGE Payne fan this is a great book. Balanced, mature. The beauty of this book is that it's not dragged down by its lack of perspective like Tracy Stewart's biography. A fine read. I recommend this before any other Stewart biography.

Where were you?
If old enough, you remember where you were when President Kennedy was assassinated. If a golf fan, you remember where you were when Payne Stewart died. I was in a restaurant having lunch with a couple of other guys. We paid only occasional attention to reports on the television behind the bar. A Lear jet was off course and expected to crash. Sadly, we soon would learn its occupants. If you read no other chapter in this excellent account of Payne Stewart's life, read the one detailing how the golfer's friends and associates learned the bad news. It's a dramatic piece of writing by Larry Guest. And it creates a bond between any reader who remembers that day and the golfer's friends in the book who talk about it. In another memorable chapter, Guest's detailed reporting makes you feel as if you're right in the aircraft during its deadly, and as yet unexplained, flight from Florida to a midwestern cornfield. This book would be a good read even for people who are not golf fans. If you do follow golf, it's a must read. If you were a Payne Stewart fan, you should have already read it.

Great Book
Much better than the Tracy Stewart biography. This one has real writing and isn't afraid to give the whole side of the story.

fictional
an effort to make money from the tragedy of payne stewart's death. i would recommend the authorized biography by tracey stewart.

Finally, a Sports Biography Hole in One!
Reading sports biographies is what I like to do. I have read tons -- from all sports, both genders. Frankly, the literary quality of sports biographies usually is low. So you read to pick up a thing or two you didn't know. Either that, or you're a sports nut like me.

This certainly is not the case with "The Payne Stewart Story" by Larry Guest. I bought the book for three reasons: 1. Wow! The cover just blew me away. I must have stared at it for five minutes. 2. I particularly like golf as a sport to read about. 3. I had bought the book by Payne Stewart's wife and was so disappointed I had to force myself to finish it. Strictly commercial, more important for what it didn't say. I was looking for who Payne Stewart was, not empty words that left me hungry and unsatisfied.

Guest's book grabbed me from the first sentence. Riveting, I think is the right word. Classy. Intelligent. The chapter on the plane crash takes your breath away. I was struck the by the amazing amount of detail. For a moment, I felt like I was there. Guest is someone who cares about detail, and so many sports authors don't.

There is nearly a whole chapter is Guest's book on why Payne wore Knickers. I always wondered about that. It was as fascinating as it was funny.

Guest handles the story of Stewart's maturation -- his spiritual growth, his growth as a Tour golfer, as a husband and father, as a citizen, as a man. Like the rest of us, Stewart was flawed, and Guest deals with the flaws directly but with tenderness. I really liked the way he handled that. It made the book wonderful for me.

This is truly a great sports biography, five stars, very different in a way I can't explain. I just could not put it down for its honesty and its humor and its unique format. I had read 50 pages before leaving the store and taking the book home with me. This is hard for me to say, but I'm sure this is the best sports biography I have ever read. There are bigger stars, but I cannot think of a better book. "The Payne Stewart Story" informs, entertains, enlightens, inspires. Although a tragedy, the book made me feel better about things. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A tribute to his legacy as a golfer and as a human being
Payne Stewart was a gifted professional golfer, a loving father, devoted husband, loyal friend, and a man of faith. On October 25, 1999, a plane on its way to Texas and carrying five people, crashed in a pasture in a remote area of South Dakota. The pilot and all of the passengers, including Payne Stewart, died. When he died, Stewart was enjoying his greatest year as a professional golfer as current defender of the U.S. Open, a member of the Ryder Cup Championship team, and the winner of the AT&T Celebrity Pro-Am in Pebble Beach. His silky golf swing and his knickers with a tam-o-shanter perched upon his head were all familiar trademarks of his colorful golfing persona. I Remember Payne Stewart is a tribute to his legacy as a golfer and as a human being through the comments, memories and anecdotes offered by relatives, college buddies, fellow golfers, sports reporters, and more. I Remember Payne Stewart is a striking and memorable collection of personal memories by those who knew him best and a "must read" for all Stewart fans who followed his golf course accomplishments with great enthusiasm for the man and the game.

Let down
Very superficial. Not nearly the depth of the authorized biography.

Outstanding treatment of Stewart
Fantastic treatment of this golf icon. And so timely. Couldn't recommend it more highly. ... Read more

Book Description

Now available in paperback, Tin Cup Dreams is the remarkable odyssey of self-taught golfer Esteban Toledo, a former boxer who overcame poverty and the wrong side of the tracks to make it through Q School and a make-or-break season on the PGA Tour. With uncommon grit and determination, Toledo finally triumphs after a 12 year quest that took him to the depths of despair.

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Michael D'Antonio gives a rare behind-the-scenes look at the PGA Tour while keeping readers on the edge of their seats with his chronicle of Toledo's struggles. Traditionally, golf was a dreamer's path to glory. Tin Cup Dreams shows that it still is. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

PGA Tour and Q school upclose
This book contains an excellent story and very well paced.It follows Esteban Toledo from his PGA tour qualification to the tour as he plays in a variety of tournaments, covering his practise habits, his earlier life, his caddy, the playing partners and family. The year seems to pass in front of the reader giving insights into variety of aspects of professional golf players.

A hard to put down book.

Excellent Book Tarnished By Editing Errors
The author presents a well written and compelling narrative of the dreams and struggles of PGA Tour professional Esteban Toledo. Read this book if you are interested in the day-to-day life of a touring golf professional. I was, however, continuously distracted by the poor editing of the book. There are so many editing mistakes that by the end of the book the reader is simply insulted by the lack of care that apparently went into publishing the author's excellent work.

Good book
To simply put it, this was a very good book and an easy read too, however many typos and errors. But other than that i loved the book.

A sweaty fairy tale you'll love
It's hard to know what part of this sweaty fairy tale to like the best.
First there was Esteban Toledo the boy. He was the driven young Mexican kid whose family in Mexicali was so poor that having nothing would be a step up.

But the boy was also unique. He was a scrapper. He was a boy with nothing who taught himself to play a rich man's game and he worked at it fulltime. So, just at the right time, some rich gringo from California offered the boy a miracle.

Then, there is Esteban the man. It took a while until he adjusted to the first miracle: Going from the streets to living in a mansion. But he goes on to a new struggle, the hugely difficult quest to play on the PGA tour and just when he seems doomed, he creates a second miracle.

Finally, we have the millionaire, a man who plowed fields behind a horse at age 8. Jon Minnis the self-made man doesn't care about a charitable tax deduction. He prefers results to tax deductions. He and his wife, Rita, would rather pluck a poor kid out of the Mexicali slums, just because the kid deserves a shot. Then, of course, they will love him and suffer with him. You'll thank God they didn't just write a check.

Tin Cup Dreams by Michael D'Antonio is a true, painful, inspiring tale in which suffering leads to miracles. These miracles demand huge investments in sacrifice, and enormous, unlikely leaps of faith before the ball falls into that tin cup at just the right moment. But when that ball really does fall, you still know it is a miracle and you still wipe the sweat off your brow and rejoice.

If you've never bet on a long shot, or even if you have, this is a great, fast read that pays off in inspiration and motivation. Meet PGA Tour pro golfer Esteban Toledo and the people who are there with him in his dream. It's worth it.

Breathtaking...
This book was simply sensational! Anyone who has ever touched a golf club should read this book, because it makes anyone a believer that the "impossible" can happen. I could not put this heartwarming book down after reading page after page of Esteban's trials and turmoils on his path to greatness on the PGA Tour. What a great book for anyone who's been told that they cannot do something. Esteban Toledo silenced all his critics and proved that he could! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Perspective and appreciation for the greatest of them all
Any one from recent generations wanting to learn about Bobby Jones needs to get this book. You will learn of Jones the golfer, family man, gentleman, academic, and lawyer. Jones was a winner in golf and life but never waivered from his philosophy of "playing it as it lies". A collection of stories and photos unmatched in other Jones biographies. The manner in which Jones dealt with his success, and then his disabling illness is a lesson for all. ... Read more

Book Description

Earl Woods, the father of young Eldrick "Tiger" Woods, was widely ridiculed in 1996 when, in an article anointing his son as Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year, he likened Tiger's potential impact to that of a messiah. This unseemly proclamation appeared to embody all the worst elements of the dreaded sports-parent who seeks financial windfall and personal validation by pushing his child to excel on the diamond, the gridiron, the court, or the fairways. But in light of all we know now about Tiger Woods, David Owen asks in The Chosen One, who is to say that it wasn't Tiger's transcendent greatness all along that induced his father to guide him, rather than the father pushing the son?

Not since the dawn of competitive tournament golf has anyone distanced himself from the rest of the world the way Tiger has. He is the best there is at nearly every aspect of the game: the longest driver, the strongest iron player, the most creative around the greens, and so sharp a clutch putter that when he putts well the tournament is over, and when he putts badly he often wins anyway. He is a breakthrough athlete in a sport remarkably resistant to them; in every tournament, Tiger has to beat a hundred-plus competitors, any of whom can take away a title with a four-day hot streak. When Michael Jordan won all his back-to-back championships, each night he only had to beat one team.

Tiger is also a breakthrough athlete as one of the first true multicultural icons. There are African-American, Asian, Native American, and Caucasian elements to his roots; he carries with him parts of so many ethnicities that he not only shatters stereotypes but renders the whole notion of racial classification irrelevant. It is ironic that such an athlete would emerge in golf, America's most tradition-bound and racially insensitive sport.

In The Chosen One, gifted essayist David Owen ponders the social, economic, and athletic implications of this amazing young man. We are only beginning to see all the ways that Tiger Woods might reshape the world. Owen's thoughtful, incisive, elegant, and provocative work examines this phenomenon unlike any the fields of play have ever seen, in a book that will stand alongside John McPhee's A Sense of Where You Are (about Princeton forward Bill Bradley) among the classic works of sports philosophy. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

This book is O.K
This book was very true about the life of Tiger Woods. It keep me reading page after page. The author was a sports writer so he knew what he was writing aout and it was great.Tiger Woods is the best golfer.

Great book
This is a good book for any Tiger fan. It can be read by kids who have achieved this reading level, on up to any adult. If you're a Tiger fan, read this one.

Has some gems
A collection of few chapters with the authors own ideas and thoughts thrown in too liberally, it is more of the author's view of Tiger Woods. Does not qualify as an biography, just a bunch of articles. Does has a few gems which make it worthwhile.

GOLF'S ANNOINTED
Over the past century golf has produced some of the greatest players of all times. None, however, have reached the caliber of skill and magnitude of Eldrick "Tiger" Woods. In such a short time and at an early age Tiger has raised the sport of golf to a higher level. Who is this young man who has broken golf records, establishes new ones and inspires a new generation to seriously take up the sport of golf?

David Owen deals with that question in this well written and concise book about Tiger Woods and his impact upon golf. He examines Woods' training, his place in history, his impact on the sport and the public's fascination with him. As a contributing editor of Golf Digest, our author doesn't inundate you with Woods' golf statistics. Nor does he give you an in depth expose of Tiger's life. Owen gives a positive even handed treatment of Woods life and career. He is just as fascinated with this young phenomenon of golf as we are but doesn't worship Woods. He respects and admires this young sportsman.

I enjoyed this book because it enlighten me about the development of Woods' career. Tiger comes across as a disciplined young man who is highly competitive, focused and has high expectations of himself and for those around him. His aura and the way he has carried himself forces his opponents to improve their game. Tiger's impact upon golf is immense as Owen has shown throughout the story.

This is an excellent book for fans of Woods, golf enthusiasts and those who love sports in general. I am not a sports fan but I picked up this book in passing. I was impressed by Woods' character, discipline and commitment. I highly recommend this book which has given us a snap shot of a true sportsman that adults and young people can admire and emulate. Woods has made himself one of the greatest golf players of all time but he has transcended the game. He serves as an example of excellence for life whose lessons we can certainly take to heart.

Ground-Breaker
that is the only way to describe Tiger Woods.it seems He continues to Pave New Ground on the Golf Course.with Him Winning&holding many trophys ...Tiger Woods is the Jackie Robinson of the Golf World.He May Be the Most Important Athlete of this Century time will only tell.but He has made a Helluva Impact.He made the Golf Game Hip.Before Him only Rodney Dangerfield in CaddyShack was Appealing to Me.He has truly Opened up some Closed Gates. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Jake the Trout Guy tells all
Jake is such a popular player and very versatile. Not only does he play golf very well at the pro level, but his lead singing is legendary. Buy the Jake Trout and the Flounder album if you haven't already.

The guy's imitations on the practice range are classics. Now, in this book he tells some stories of himself and others. Remember Fluff?

Great golf read from one of the most respected guys on tour. Win a couple more Jake. ... Read more

Book Description

Ben Hogan’s former ball shagger recounts firsthand stories of the golf legend—andreveals, for the first time, Hogan’s Swing Secret, a source of mystery to golfers for morethan fifty years.

Ben Hogan’s pro golf record is legendary. A four-time PGA Player of the Year, hecelebrated sixty-three tournament wins and became known as a man of few words andfewer close friends. Most of what we know about Hogan has been based on myth andspeculation. Until now.

In the 1960s, though Hogan’s competitive career was over, he kept the practice habitsthat made him famous and remade modern competitive golf. He hired seventeen-year-oldJody Vasquez to help. Each day, after driving to a remote part of the course at ShadyOaks Country Club, Hogan would spend hours hitting balls and Vasquez would retrievethem. There, and over the course of their twenty-year friendship, Hogan taught Jody themechanics of his famous swing and shared his thoughts on playing, practicing, andcourse management—unknowingly revealing much about his character, values, andbeliefs, and the events that shaped them.

In Afternoons with Mr. Hogan, Jody Vasquez shares dozens of stories aboutHogan, from the way he practiced, selected his clubs, and interacted with other starplayers to his little-known humor and generosity. Combining the gentle insight of TomKite’s A Fairway to Heaven (which recalls Kite’s golf education under HarveyPenick) with the sage perspective of Penick’s own Little Red Book, Vasquez’stribute is funny, poignant, and full of advice for golfers of all levels. ... Read more

Book Description

Here is a great writer exploring the spiritual, mental, and physical joys of golf.

Most avid golfers believe that there is a profound connection between the joys and challenges of golf and the joys and challenges of living, that the more devoted we are to the game, the more we learn about ourselves.

In PASSION FOR GOLF, novelist Roland Merullo looks carefully at those connections and at the reasons why people find themselves so irresistibly attracted to golf. Drawing on the triumphs and travails of playing partners, friends, and family members, and mixing in anecdotes from his own adventures on and off the course, Merullo explores the notion of a “true goal of golf,” a hidden attraction that, ultimately, has more to do with a deep peace and satisfaction than with the dream of playing on the PGA tour. He finds connections between fairway lessons and the mystical wisdom of Lao Tzu, Theresa of Avila, Thoreau, Jesus, Buddha, and Walt Whitman, among many others, and looks into the role of ego, anger, and silence in golf and life.

More than anything else, PASSION FOR GOLF is a celebration of the game, an examination of the roots of our passion for it, and a meditation on the lessons every golfer carries away from the course and into his or her life. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The Soul of Golf
This splendid little book is a double-edged Christmas gift: any intelligent golfer will love and benefit from it--and any gift-giver will appreciate having such an easy choice. "Passion for Golf" is not an instruction book, a how-to about better grips and reading greens. Instead it is a gracefully written (Merullo is a novelist) exploration of what golfers really battle on the course--not just the lies and bunkers and crosswinds but themselves and their demons: Ego, Anger, Fear, and others. Merullo writes of how to the game, and he doesn't need to draw on any Tigers or White Sharks to enlighten you. Indeed what is most appealing about this book is the he writes from the perspective of a pretty-good amateur playing a no-name course in western Massachusetts. And if you step back a bit for some perspective, you see that this is really a book about life. MBA's who have worn out their copies of "The Book of Five Rings" will find it worth their while, but any passionate golfer will enjoy a round in Merullo's company. ... Read more

Book Description

Subtitled "A Caddy's Lessons in Life, Business, and Golf," Distance to the Green defies rigid classification.Book stores shelve it on their business/motivation stacks.Golf stores carry it because of its vivid golfing stories and tips.Even non-golfers enjoy its humorous and real characters and the true-to-life instruction it provides.

The book follows Scotty, a hardheaded and egotistical college golfer who is forced to spend the summer caddying at National, the most prestigious golf course in the country.While caddying for some of the most significant and wealthy men and women in the country, he learns important life lessons from its members.He learns how to set and attain goals for both personal and business success.He learns how to "wire the deal" -- a five step process for extracting the greatness within all of us.He learns the real steps of problem solving, how mentoring helps increase intellectual capital, what team building can mean, what is truly significant in communication -- and still more, all of it vital in achieving success as an effective human being and leader.

Woven into these significant life lessons are great golfing stories, humor, hints, tips, and pure, colorful descriptions of the "best golf course in America."You'll enjoy meeting Scotty and who he becomes, his mentors, and you'll like the fact that you can share in his excitement and growth as he learns some valuable lessons . . . and you won't even have to carry the bags. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A light and encouraging read
I really enjoyed this light read. What I really like is that it isn't a heavy motivator. There were no forceful attitudes like other motivational books I have read. It simply stated through an intelligent and humourous read that we can all learn values from others and then share our knowledge and values to help people with finding their own paths in life. Well done to the authors.

Great book, especially for business people who golf.
A fun book with an interesting format. Scotty, the caddy, learns much that everyone needs to know. The golf stuff is accurate and the "lessons" are ones we all need to learn. This isn't quite self help, but it helped me in several ways . . . I highly recommend it! ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Know what you're getting!
This is a serious work by a professor of history. It ISN'T filled with anecdotes ("And then Walter said to Bobby ..."), descriptions of shots ("Bobby then drilled a quail-high mashie between the towering pines ..."), gossip, swing analyses, etc. If this is what you're looking for, you'll be sorely disappointed. It's fairly dry -- make that extremely dry -- but is well-researched (hundreds of endnotes) and will be fascinating for anyone with an interest in the history of American golf. The format is a dual biography of Jones and Hagen in which their respective careers are compared and contrasted to give the reader an understanding of the rise of American golf in the era 1900-1930. The two men were so different in virtually every respect that this approach is very effective. Those who think golf began with Palmer, Nicklaus or Woods will gain an appreciation of what "gods" Jones and Hagen really were during the era in which they played. Hagen especially tends to be overlooked, but this book is an important reminder that he was one of the true greats of the game in addition to being one of its two or three all-time "characters." I didn't have the feeling that the author was particularly knowledgeable or avid about the game -- instead, this is a work of historical research, just as you or I might produce a history of badminton if we were willing to spend the time to do the research. When you're done, you won't "know" Bobby Jones as well as you'd know him if you read his and O. B. Keeler's own voluminous writings, and you won't be a fount of anecdotes, but you will have a solid grasp of Jones' and Hagen's place in history, how golf became an American obsession and how American golf eclipsed British golf. All of this for the price of a couple of dozen Top-Flite x-outs.

Great read
After reading this book, I found that Dr. Stephen Lowe really brings to life the lives of Bobby Jones and Walter Hagen. This book is written in a descriptive oriented reading. Before reading this book, I found that golf was not much of a sport. I found that there is truly a rich history in golf that I have come to respect and want to learn more about. I applaud Dr. Lowe and hope to read future writings.

A Very Insightful Book!
A meticulously researched book, an asset to any avid golfers bookshelf.

All facts!
I was very disapointed in this book. It seemed more like a collection of facts than a insightful biography. I felt I learn little about the two man that I could not have found in a enclopedia.

Great Insight into two of Golf's Legends
This is reminiscent of an old book I read which compared the tennis careers of Arthur Ashe and Clark Graebner. They came from two different societal classes. Thus, there approach to the game and its structure were opposed at times, and yet had many crossovers and parallels.

Possibly, this explains their differences and similarities. One who came from the country club environ might more easily been able to afford the luxury of amateur status and gentlemanly approach, while the other clawed and fought for each millimeter of turf to get and stay on the top.

Jones is already a bright star in our past, and this book shall help to place Sir Walter in his rightful place in our rich golf heritage. We don't consider and give enough credit that without these two Arnie and Jack wouldn't have been able to achieve for golf what they did. I've heard Arnie acknowledge this as well, the class act that he is.

Golf has much to feed on in its history and continue for the generations to come. This wonderful addition to its literary heritage is an brilliantly composed and written volume. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

One of Golf's Great Ambassadors
This is such an enjoyable read, which reads much like what one would think after hearing Gene do the color on Shell's Wonderful World of Golf.

There is just one delightful story after another about Sarazen's life in golf, which began as many others did of his day in caddying. He didn't come from country club family. Italian immigrants, he changed his name"Saraceni" eventually to Sarazen. Great story about initial caddy experience, where he didn't even know about the tee (which the caddy was supposed to take care of.)

From his infamous double eage at Augusta to his touching story with the elderly caddy Daniels and their win at The British, this book is jammed packed with golf told through the eyes of a man who played alongside the like of Vardon, Cotton, Armour, Snead, Hogan and Hagen, among others.

What a fascinating insight into not only this wonderful champion and his life and development, but the development of the game so many of us receive such great enjoyment from ourselves.

Golfing lost a true champion when Gene departed several years ago. Classy man. ... Read more

Book Description

Seve's playboy good looks and natural magnetism attracted non-golfers to the game and made him the biggest drawing card Europe has ever had. He emerged on the world scene by hitting one of the most outrageous shots ever seen at the 1976 Open Championship and then became the youngest Open Champion of the modern era when he won the first of his five major championships. ... Read more

Book Description

Maybe It Should Have Been a Three-Iron is the funny and poignant story of one man's search for sporting glory.Lawrence Donegan had the desire but lacked the talent to be a professional golfer, so he settled for the next best thing--caddying for Ross Drummond, a little-known pro on the European PGA tour, ranking 438th in the world.With self-deprecating humor, Donegan recounts the days and endless nights he spent on the road with Drummond as they existed on a string of meager tournament checks and chased the elusive "big win" much as Don Quixote and Sancho Panza chased winmills. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

There are better stories on golf out there....
but this one is readable if only because it is a take on the Euro tour. It takes you to golfing venues and places that others dont. If you want a book about a player you know or courses and tournaments you are familiar with, then this is not your book. That, however, is the redeeming factor of this book. It does get dry because of that though, as it does the usual, painful breakdown of all of Ross Drummond's (Ross who?...exactly)shots and putts. This of course it what drops its rating down. A book like this on Tiger might rate 5 stars as we would all like to hear the inside scoop from his caddy. Where it does excel is with Donegan's wit, humor and exploits. When their relationship starts to sour Donegan takes more of an interest in his social life, and in places like Morocco you know it will get interesting. Chapter seven on his experience in Rabat is pretty dang funny.

Very funny book, even if you aren't 'into' golf
I read this book because I loved Donegan's other book 'No News At Throat Lake', which was both moving and hilarious.

I don't play golf but know enough about it to enjoy the humor in this book, which kept me amused while I traveled around Ireland for three weeks. Donegan has a great ability to capture well the itinerant lifestyle of the B-grade pro-golfer, the emotional ups and downs of losing more than winning, the little triumphs and pleasures of golf, and the mental stamina needed to be a pro-golfer.

I recommend this book to golfers as well as anyone who just wants a very funny read.

Funniest golf book I have ever read.
Period. And I have read them all.

Pin High
AN excellent insight into the drudgery and excitement of participants in the world's second biggest golf tour. It is astonishing that Donegan's time with Drummond represented a pinnacle in the latter's career. This gives the book an exciting narrative structure that would have been regarded as corny if it were fiction. All this and it's very humourously written too. Fantastic.

So you want to be a European Tour caddie?
"Maybe It Should Have Been a Three-Iron" is an entertaining and teasingly funny description of the author's exploits as a sports writer turned European Tour caddie for tour veteran Ross Drummond.

It's obvious fairly early on that Donegan isn't cut out to be a caddie, and certainly not Drummond's caddie, but these are both desperate men in their own ways. Donegan is both self-deprecating and facetiously self-centered in his narrative and the resulting reading is frequently hilarious.

This book is an excellent counterpoint to Feinstein's books about the PGA Tour, and in some respects paints a more endearing picture of the European Tour by pointing out its (not really, but almost) "minor-league" aspects.

Highly recommended for anyone who likes a good golf story. Colorful personalities and rich scenery are a bonus! ... Read more

Book Description

Golf for Women magazine calls Alice Dye "the woman who changed the way we play the game." Hall of Fame golfer Nancy Lopez says, "Alice is one of the greatest amateur golfers ever." Husband and revered golf course architect Pete Dye adds, "She has a great understanding of the game of golf and a keen eye for course design."

Twice United States Senior Women's Amateur Champion and member of the victorious 1970 United States Curtis Cup team, Alice has influenced the game of golf for more than fifty years through her work as a member of the USGA committees, the first woman board member of the PGA of America, and the first woman president of the American Society of Golf Course Architects.

In From Birdies to Bunkers, Alice Dye shares her personal, passionate, and funny experiences of a life on and off the course -- playing with the great Babe Didrikson Zaharias, dining with Tiger Woods, her pioneering efforts on behalf of women golfers, and working with Pete to design many of the world's greatest golf courses. In addition, the magical names of Nancy Lopez, Arnold Palmer, Jack and Barbara Nicklaus, Byron Nelson, President George H. Bush, and others are woven throughout, providing a book that will improve your knowledge of golf and perhaps your own game.